Headset Slider Mechanism

Abstract

A small portable headset includes a housing ( 102 ) including a first housing member ( 104 ) and a second housing member ( 106 ), said first housing member slidingly carried on said second housing member. A spring ( 402 ) carried in said housing is biased to push said second housing member away from said first housing member to move said housing to an open position. A damper ( 404 ) carried in said housing to resist movement of the second housing away from said first housing member. A key assembly carried in said housing includes a key ( 150 ), said key actuated to release said first and second housing members to slide apart responsive to the force of said spring. Said key assembly includes an electrical switch ( 332 ) positioned below said key and actuated by pressing the key when said housing is in an open position, and an electrical circuit ( 1500 ) responsive to actuation of said switch when the housing is in the open position to transmit a mode change signal.

1 . A small portable headset comprising: 
 a housing ( 102 ) including a first housing member ( 104 ) and a second housing member ( 106 ), said first housing member slidingly carried on said second housing member;    a spring ( 402 ) carried in said housing and biased to push said second housing member away from said first housing member to move said housing to an open position;    a damper ( 404 ) carried in said housing to resist movement of the second housing away from said first housing member; and    a key assembly carried in said housing, said key assembly including a key ( 150 ), said key actuated to release said first and second housing members to slide apart responsive to the force of said spring.    
     
     
         2 . The headset of  claim 1 , wherein said key assembly includes an electrical switch ( 332 ) positioned below said key and actuated by pressing the key.  
     
     
         3 . The headset of  claim 1 , wherein said key assembly includes an electrical switch ( 332 ) positioned below said key and actuated by pressing the key when said housing is in an open position and an electrical circuit ( 1500 ) responsive to actuation of said switch when the housing is in the open position to transmit a mode change signal.  
     
     
         4 . A portable headset comprising: 
 a housing having first and second housing members;    a key carried on said housing, said key actuated to release one of the first and second housing members to slide from the other of said first and second housing members, to configure said housing in an open position, said portable headset ON in said open position;    a switch positioned below said key, the switch actuated to transmit a control signal; and    a circuitry responsive to actuation of the switch while said housing is in said open position to generate a mode change signal.    
     
     
         5 . The headset according to  claim 4 , wherein including an ON/OFF switch actuated by the second housing member, whereby sliding movement of said second housing member response to depression of said initiates automatic open which to turns the headset ON, and sliding the second housing into the closed position turns the headset OFF.  
     
     
         6 . A portable headset, comprising: 
 a housing including a main body and a slide body, the slide body moving between an open position and a closed position;    a release carried in said housing, the release including a key which is actuated when said housing is closed to release the slide body to automatically slide out from the main body;    an ON/OFF switch carried in said housing and positioned to be actuated by said slide body;    a key switch carried in said housing and actuated by the said key; and    a controller response to the ON/OFF switch to turn the headset ON in the open position and turn the headset OFF in the closed position, and responsive to the key switch to transmit a control signal to a communication device with which the headset is being used responsive to actuation of the key while the headset is in the open position.